로그인“Mom.” Nico’s voice came thin and wiry from the exam table. He pushed himself up on one elbow, swaying a little where he sat. “Stop. She saved me. She gave the plant to me as a present. She didn’t know.” He swallowed, wincing as his fingers lifted to touch his raw throat. “Please don’t blame her.”S
Ellie’s POVI was already moving before the leaf hit the ground.I dropped to my knees beside Nico. His back had bowed off the step, legs trembling as a thin line of spit gathered at the corner of his mouth. I slid a hand under his head so he couldn’t crack it on the stone and took a breath, then fo
Dominic’s POVBy the time I made it home, I was dead on my feet. And yet, there was so much to do that I hardly had time to take a thirty-minute nap before I was moving again.My Beta was waiting for me in my study, and looked up from behind the desk, giving me a curt look.“You look exhausted.”“Ni
I let myself out and stood on the porch for a moment to catch my breath.“You’re leaving already?”I jumped, whirling around to see Nico sitting on a swinging bench off to the side. He was only wearing a sweater, no coat or hat or mittens, his cheeks flushed from the cold. He didn’t seem bothered by
Ellie’s POVStephanie led me through to a sitting room off the front hall and gestured to an armchair by the fire. A tray was already set out on the coffee table between us. I sat, and she poured two cups of steaming tea.“You look frozen,” Stephanie said, sliding a cup across to me. “Drink.”I took
“What do you want?” I snapped.Vivian pulled her head back. Then lifted her wrapped hand. “You are a healer, aren’t you? Or are you going to turn me away?”I sighed, knowing that she was right. Despite our past, it wouldn’t be right of me to turn away a clearly injured person. I’d made a vow when I
The place is packed, shoulder-to-shoulder bodies, dim lights pulsing in time with the bass, laughter mixing with the sugary smell of spiked drinks. Someone’s already spilled something sticky on my shoe. People are dancing, shouting, flirting, practically climbing the walls.And Vivian has been glued
Ellie's POVEveryone around fell silent, not daring to speak. The usual chatter and laughter of the courtyard died away as all eyes turned to us. Students who had been walking by stopped in their tracks, sensing the tension in the air.Dominic's expression stayed neutral, but I noticed tension in hi
My heart hammers.“I just wanted you free,” I say, softer than I mean to.Her eyes narrow. “You wanted you free. You wanted to prove your parents don’t control you.”“That’s not true.”“Then what is?”I shouldn’t look at her mouth. I do anyway.“The truth,” I say low, “is you don’t make sense.”Her
This time, I’m not soaked.And no one was hurt.My hand presses to my temple. Thank gods.The applause hasn’t even finished fading when Vivian’s voice cuts through it.“She rigged it!” She points innocently. “I’m sorry! But! She did!”The room stills.I turn just in time to see her step forward, loo







